How Do You Build a Bed Frame?

Building a bed frame is mostly a matter of sequence. Assemble the headboard first, attach both side rails and the foot rail loosely, square the frame by measuring the diagonals, then tighten the bolts in an alternating pattern before fitting the centre support and slats. This guide walks through each stage in that order, explains the difference between bolt fixings and cam lock fittings and how to insert a cam barrel the right way round, and sets out the slat spacing that foam and pocket sprung mattresses need. We also cover the mistakes that cause creaking later, from overtightening manufactured board to centre legs that never quite reach the floor, along with the retightening checks worth repeating after the first fortnight and every six months. We also cover the extra stages that ottoman and drawer frames add, and how carpet, floorboards and tiles each change the way a finished frame behaves....